U.S. patent number 7,079,745 [Application Number 11/057,451] was granted by the patent office on 2006-07-18 for spool assembly for absorbing slack of fiber optic jumpers routed through raceways and network equipment.
This patent grant is currently assigned to SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.. Invention is credited to Stephen J. Weinert, Michael L. Yeilding.
United States Patent |
7,079,745 |
Weinert , et al. |
July 18, 2006 |
Spool assembly for absorbing slack of fiber optic jumpers routed
through raceways and network equipment
Abstract
A fiber optics system includes a relay rack having network
equipment bays inserted therein. A raceway extends over the relay
rack for routing fiber optic jumpers to the bays. A spool assembly
for absorbing and storing slack or excess length of the jumpers is
selectively incorporated in the system. The spool assembly includes
a cylindrical spool supported on a mount having an adhesive
surface. The adhesive surface attaches to the relay rack in order
to attach the spool to the relay rack such that the spool is
positioned adjacent to the bays in order to store the slack of
jumpers connected between the raceway and the bays upon the jumpers
being wrapped over or around the spool. The spool has a radius
larger than a minimum bend radius of the jumpers such that the
jumpers are not bent beyond the minimum bend radius when wrapped
over or around the spool.
Inventors: |
Weinert; Stephen J. (Arlington,
TX), Yeilding; Michael L. (Fremont, CA) |
Assignee: |
SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
(Reno, NV)
|
Family
ID: |
36659198 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/057,451 |
Filed: |
February 14, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
385/135; 385/134;
385/147 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B
6/4457 (20130101); G02B 6/4452 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G02B
6/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;385/135,134,147 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pak; Sung
Assistant Examiner: Stein; James D.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Brooks Kushman P.C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A spool assembly for storing slack of fiber optic jumpers, the
spool assembly comprising: a face; a mount having an adhesive
surface; and a cylindrical spool supported between the face and the
mount for receiving fiber optic jumpers wrapped over or around the
spool in order to store slack of the fiber optic jumpers, the spool
having a radius larger than a minimum bend radius of the fiber
optic jumpers such that the fiber optic jumpers wrapped over or
around the spool are not bent beyond the minimum bend radius;
wherein the spool has a width between the face and the mount,
wherein capacity of the spool for storing fiber optic jumpers is a
function of the width of the spool, wherein the width of the spool
is expandible in order to increase the capacity of the spool for
storing fiber optic jumpers; wherein the adhesive surface of the
mount is attachable to a structure in order to position the spool
adjacent to the structure.
2. The spool assembly of claim 1 wherein: the width of the spool is
contractible in order to decrease the capacity of the spool for
storing fiber optic jumpers.
3. The spool assembly of claim 2 further comprising: a spring
extending through the interior of the spool between the mount and
the face; a spring button on the face; the spring button being
operable with the mount, the face, and the spring to set a position
of the spring in order to expand and contract the width of the
spool.
4. The spool assembly of claim 1 further comprising: a panel having
a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface having an
adhesive surface; wherein the adhesive surface of the mount
attaches to the top surface of the panel in order to attach the
spool to the panel; wherein the adhesive surface of the bottom
surface of the panel is attachable to a structure in order to
position the spool adjacent to the structure.
5. The spool assembly of claim 4 further comprising: a second
cylindrical spool supported between a second face and a second
mount for receiving fiber optic jumpers wrapped over or around the
second spool in order to store slack of the fiber optic jumpers,
the second spool having a radius larger than a minimum bend radius
of the fiber optic jumpers such that the fiber optic jumpers
wrapped over or around the second spool are not bent beyond the
minimum bend radius; wherein an adhesive surface of the second
mount attaches to the top surface of the panel in order to attach
the second spool to the panel; wherein the adhesive surface of the
bottom surface of the panel is attachable to the structure in order
to position the second spool adjacent to the structure.
6. The spool assembly of claim 5 wherein: the spools are attached
to the top surface of the panel such that the spools have a minimum
separation distance in order to accommodate the minimum bend radius
of the fiber optic jumpers when the fiber optic jumpers are wrapped
around the spools from one spool to the other spool in a figure
eight configuration.
7. A fiber optics system comprising: a relay rack having one or
more network equipment bays horizontally inserted therein; and a
rack panel assembly having a panel suitable for being horizontally
inserted into the relay rack between or adjacent to the network
equipment bays, the panel having a top surface and a bottom
surface; the rack panel assembly further including one or more
spool assemblies, each spool assembly including a cylindrical spool
supported on a mount having an adhesive surface, the adhesive
surface of the mount of a spool attaches to one of the top and
bottom surfaces of the panel in order to attach the spool to the
panel such that the spool is positioned between or adjacent to the
network equipment bays in order to store slack of fiber optic
jumpers connected to the network equipment bays upon the fiber
optic jumpers being wrapped over or around the spool, the spool
having a radius larger than a minimum bend radius of the fiber
optic jumpers such that the fiber optic jumpers wrapped over or
around the spool are not bent beyond the minimum bend radius;
wherein the spool is supported between the mount and a face,
wherein the spool has a width between the face and the mount,
wherein capacity of the spool for storing fiber optic jumpers is a
function of the width of the spool; wherein the width of the spool
is expandible in order to increase the capacity of the spool for
storing fiber optic jumpers, and the width of the spool is
contractible in order to decrease the capacity of the spool for
storing fiber optic jumpers.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein: a spring extends through the
interior of the spool between the mount and the face, and a spring
button is on the face, wherein the spring button is operable with
the mount, the face, and the spring to set a position of the spring
in order to expand and contract the width of the spool.
9. The system of claim 7 further comprising: a second set of spool
assemblies, wherein the adhesive surface of the mount of a spool of
the second set of spool assemblies attaches to a side of the relay
rack in order to attach the spool of the second set of spool
assemblies to the relay rack side such that the spool of the second
set of spool assemblies is positioned adjacent to the network
equipment bays in order to store slack of fiber optic jumpers
connected to the network equipment bays upon the fiber optic
jumpers being wrapped over or around the spool of the second set of
spool assemblies.
10. The system of claim 7 further comprising: a raceway extending
over the relay rack, the raceway routing fiber optic jumpers to the
network equipment bays in the relay rack; and a second set of spool
assemblies, wherein the adhesive surface of the mount of a spool of
the second set of spool assemblies attaches to a side of the relay
rack in order to attach the spool of the second set of spool
assemblies to the relay rack side such that the spool of the second
set of spool assemblies is positioned adjacent to the network
equipment bays in order to store slack of fiber optic jumpers
routed from the raceway to the network equipment bays upon these
fiber optic jumpers being wrapped over or around the spool of the
second set of spool assemblies.
11. The system of claim 7 further comprising: a second relay rack
having one or more network equipment bays horizontally inserted
therein; and a second set of spool assemblies, wherein the adhesive
surface of the mount of a spool of the second set of spool
assemblies attaches to a side of the second relay rack in order to
attach the spool of the second set of spool assemblies to the
second relay rack side such that the spool of the second set of
spool assemblies is positioned to store slack of fiber optic
jumpers routed between the relay racks upon these fiber optic
jumpers being wrapped over or around the spool of the second set of
spool assemblies.
12. A fiber optics system comprising: a rack having one or more
network equipment bays inserted therein; a raceway extending over
the rack, the raceway routing fiber optic jumpers to the network
equipment bays in the rack; and a spool assembly including a
cylindrical spool supported on a mount having an adhesive surface,
the adhesive surface of the mount of the spool attaches to the rack
in order to attach the spool to the rack such that the spool is
positioned adjacent to the network equipment bays in order to store
slack of fiber optic jumpers connected between the raceway and the
network equipment bays upon the fiber optic jumpers being wrapped
over or around the spool, the spool having a radius larger than a
minimum bend radius of the fiber optic jumpers such that the fiber
optic jumpers wrapped over or around the spool are not bent beyond
the minimum bend radius; wherein the spool is supported between the
mount and a face, wherein the spool has a width between the face
and the mount, wherein capacity of the spool for storing fiber
optic jumpers is a function of the width of the spool; wherein the
width of the spool is expandible in order to increase the capacity
of the spool for storing fiber optic jumpers.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein: the width of the spool is
contractible in order to decrease the capacity of the spool for
storing fiber optic jumpers.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein: a spring extends through the
interior of the spool between the mount and the face, and a spring
button is on the face, wherein the spring button is operable with
the mount, the face, and the spring to set a position of the spring
in order to expand and contract the width of the spool.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to mechanisms for routing,
supporting, and storing fiber optic jumpers.
2. Background Art
Fiber optic troughs carry and route cables such as fiber optic
jumpers. Certain troughs called "raceways" horizontally extend over
network equipment such as fiber distributing frames and bays which
make up a fiber optics environment. The raceways are similar in
design to rain gutters. Jumpers placed inside the raceways run
along the raceways from point-to-point. Jumpers exit the raceways
through exit troughs to connect with the network equipment.
Network equipment includes electronic shelving mounted into relay
racks. Such relay racks are also known as bay frameworks and
equipment bays. The jumpers exiting from a raceway typically run
vertically down the sides of the relay rack to connect with the
network equipment. Such jumpers may also run vertically down
through a duct located inside the relay rack to connect with the
network equipment. The relay rack sides and the duct represent
standard vertical trough systems. Such standard vertical trough
systems allow jumper access in/out of the equipment bays but do not
take jumper bend radius control or jumper slack management into
consideration.
Jumper bend radius control is important as jumpers should not be
bent beyond a minimum curvature radius of 1.5 inches in order to
ensure their proper signal transmission characteristics. Jumper
slack management control is important, as the actual length of
jumpers routed through raceways and network equipment in a fiber
optics environment is usually much greater than the length
physically required for the jumpers to be connected between
termination points in the fiber optics environment.
As a result of the deficiencies associated with the standard
vertical trough systems, relay racks have been augmented on their
sides with costly trough systems having bend radius limiters. Such
a trough system generally includes a metal trough that is a part of
(or attached to) a relay rack and runs vertically along the relay
rack. The bend radius limiters fit in certain limited areas
relative to the relay rack based upon constraints of the metal
trough. In addition, once the metal trough is in place the metal
trough and the bend radius limiters do not have the flexibility to
adapt to the changing needs of a fiber optics environment.
It is recognized that jumpers should have an extra length (commonly
known as "slack") than the length actually required for being
connected to termination points in a fiber optics environment for
two reasons. First, the extra length enables jumpers to have a
loose fit and therefore be able to slide over one another without
hindrance. Second, the extra length enables jumpers to transmit
optical signals correctly by not reducing the length of the jumpers
so that the actual wavelength distance (generally considered at
five feet) between connectors remains consistent.
As such, there is a need to store jumper slack next to network
equipment including relay racks or within fiber distribution
frames. A fiber distribution frame is made up of relay racks linked
together by a horizontal and vertical trough system. Both relay
racks and fiber distribution frames require jumper slack and jumper
bend radius management.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a spool assembly having a jumper
spool for absorbing fiber optic jumper slack in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention in which the jumper spool is in
a non-telescoped layout;
FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the spool assembly shown in FIG.
1 in which the jumper spool is in a telescoped layout;
FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively illustrate top and bottom views of the
spool assembly shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of a multiple spool assembly
arrangement having jumper spools for absorbing fiber optic jumper
slack in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in
which the jumper spools are in a non-telescoped layout;
FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the multiple spool assembly
arrangement shown in FIG. 5 in which the jumper spools are in a
telescoped layout;
FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively illustrate top and bottom views of the
multiple spool assembly arrangement shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of a rack panel assembly having
multiple jumper spools for absorbing fiber optic jumper slack in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 10 and 11 respectively illustrate top and bottom views of the
rack panel assembly shown in FIG. 9;
FIG. 12 illustrates a perspective view of a fiber optics
environment having a raceway and network equipment in which spool
assemblies having jumper spools in accordance with the present
invention are selectively incorporated as part of the environment
for absorbing fiber optic jumper slack; and
FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective view of another fiber optics
environment having a raceway and network equipment in which spool
assemblies and rack panel assemblies in accordance with the present
invention are selectively incorporated as part of this environment
for absorbing fiber optic jumper slack.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
Jumper spools for absorbing and storing slack of fiber optic
jumpers routed through raceways and network equipment in accordance
with the present invention have many advantages. In general, the
jumper spools augment existing relay rack (bay) trough openings
(either vertically or horizontally) within the trough openings. The
jumper spools are adhered to the inside of the troughs with the use
of adhesive and placed at strategic points within the troughs to
secure the jumpers and store slack associated with the jumpers. The
jumper spools absorb the jumper slack as a result of the jumpers
being wrapped around or over the jumper spools. The jumper spools
provide for the minimum jumper bend radius of 1.5 inches (3.0
inches diameter) for the jumpers wrapped over or around the jumper
spools.
The jumper spools provision the security, protection, and
containment of jumpers on the side of each bay relay rack or on the
bay equipment itself on an extremely cost effective basis. The
jumper spools are flexible in their use, placement, and ability to
adapt as compared with typical jumper limiters.
The jumper spools in accordance with other embodiments of the
present invention have a telescoping feature. The telescoping
feature is activated by pressing a spring button on the exterior
facing of the jumper spool. The jumper spool expands to its largest
thickness (such as three inches) away from a structure (such as a
relay rack) to which it is adhered. With successive touches on the
spring button, the thickness of the jumper spool reduces in 1/2
inch increments down to its minimum thickness (such as one inch).
The use of the telescoping feature permits a rapid customization of
a jumper spool to a bay and restrains the jumpers in a loose
containment field while permitting the jumpers to slide in relation
to one another.
The jumper spools contain and protect jumpers in existing trough
subsystems without the requirement to place new troughs. The jumper
spools are configurable in one, two, and higher multiple jumper
limiter spool varieties. The multiple jumper spool varieties
rapidly absorb excess jumper lengths (i.e., slack) of jumpers
placed in troughs without mitigating the minimum bend radius by
wrapping the jumpers in "figure eight" arrangements between two or
more jumper spools.
The jumper spools accommodate easy installation. In the past, time
and effort spent to place fasteners and spools was complicated,
complex, and limited by the construction of metal troughs that are
a part of (or attached to) a relay rack. The jumper spools use
existing relay rack storage without further complex modifications
and simplify the adaptation process. Wherever the jumper spools
fit, the jumper spools can be used and attached. As such, by using
a telecommunications adhesive, the jumper spool (i.e., jumper spool
radius limiters) can be placed at will.
The cost factor of the jumper spools is a dramatic paradigm shift
in and of itself. The jumper spools attach to a structure such as a
relay rack, rack equipment, or trough from their rear using a
stick-on adhesive. As such, the jumper spools have the ability to
adapt, modify, and protect jumpers while at the same time not
compromising the integrity of the minimum bend radius necessary for
the provisioning of fiber optic service.
As such, advantages of the jumper spools include being cheaper,
better, faster, and more easily adaptive. The jumper spools trigger
a new paradigm shift on service provisioning of jumpers for slack
management, containment, and protection.
A summary of the advantages of the jumper spools is as follows. The
jumper spools do not require fixed locations for radius guides. The
jumper spools use stick-on adhesive to attach to structures such as
the sides of a relay rack without screws or other such hardware.
The jumper spools protect and maintain the bend radius of the
jumpers. The radius guides of multiple jumper spools are
configurable to be used in tandem exclusively for jumper wrapping.
The jumper spools provide discrete storage for excess wrapping of
jumpers. The jumper spools adhere to network equipment as indicated
above and, as such, are easily replaceable and movable. The
telescoping functionality of the jumper spools permits jumper
storage capacity expansion. The jumper spools can be easily
installed or rearranged.
The jumper spools have a lower cost compared with glide assemblies
or standard vertical troughs. Further, neither the glide assemblies
nor the standard vertical troughs provide any of the jumper spool
advantages summarized above.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a side view of a spool assembly 20 for
absorbing fiber optic jumper slack in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention is shown. Spool assembly 20 generally
includes a jumper spool 22 supported between a bottom mounting
portion 24 and a top facing portion 26. Fiber optic jumpers 28 wrap
around or over jumper spool 22 in order for the jumper spool to
store and absorb slack associated with the jumpers. Jumpers 28
include one jumper which wraps around or over jumper spool 22 and
also include separate and different jumpers which wrap around or
over the jumper spool.
Jumper spool 22 generally has a cylindrical body structure with a
diameter 30. Diameter 30 is large enough to ensure that jumpers 28
wrapped around or over jumper spool 22 maintain a minimum bend
radius. Preferably, diameter 30 is at least 3.0 inches to
accommodate the standard minimum jumper bend radius of 1.5 inches.
As such, jumpers 28 are not bent past the minimum bend radius when
wrapped around or over jumper spool 22.
The cylindrical body structure of jumper spool 22 has a width 32
between bottom mount 24 and top face 26. The size of width 32
determines the jumper volume storable by jumper spool 22. That is,
the size of width 32 determines the number of times that jumpers 28
are able to wrap around or over jumper spool 22 while being wrapped
in a loose containment field that permits the jumpers the ability
to slide in relation to one another.
Bottom mount 24 and top face 26 also have cylindrical body
structures. The widths of bottom mount 24 and top face 26 are
relatively smaller than the width of jumper spool 22 as the bottom
mount and the top face function as covers for the jumper spool. The
diameters of bottom mount 24 and top face 26 are relatively larger
than diameter 30 of jumper spool 22 in order to prevent jumpers 28
wrapped around or over the jumper spool from inadvertently slipping
away from the jumper spool.
In accordance with the present invention, jumper spool 22 has a
telescoping feature which enables the width of jumper spool 22 to
be changed. The telescoping feature enables the width of jumper
spool 22 to be enlarged (or contracted) in order to increase
(decrease) the jumper volume storable by the jumper spool. FIG. 1
illustrates jumper spool 22 in a non-telescoped layout. In the
non-telescoped layout, jumper spool 22 has a minimum width which is
set at width 32 as shown in FIG. 1.
The cylindrical body structure of jumper spool 22 is configured to
include multiple body layers which are interconnected and overlap
one another to enable the telescoping feature and to accommodate
for increases in the width of jumper spool 22 between bottom mount
24 and top face 26. The multiple body layers expand out from one
another to increase the width of jumper spool 22. FIG. 1
illustrates the situation in which the multiple layers of the
cylindrical body structure of jumper spool 22 are contracted over
one another such that the jumper spool has minimum width 32.
Referring now to FIG. 2, with continual reference to FIG. 1, a side
view of spool assembly 20 in which jumper spool 22 is in a
telescoped layout is shown. In FIG. 2, jumper spool 22 has a width
34 which is larger than width 32 of the non-telescoped layout shown
in FIG. 1. As such, jumper spool 22 has a larger jumper storage
capacity with width 34 than with width 32. In the telescoped
layout, the multiple body layers of the cylindrical body structure
of jumper spool 22 have expanded out from one another in order to
increase the width of the jumper spool to maximum width 34. In the
telescoped layout, jumper spool 22 maintains its diameter 30 to
ensure that the minimum bend radius for jumpers 28 wrapped around
or over the jumper spool is maintained.
The telescoping feature of jumper spool 22 enables the width of the
jumper spool to be set between minimum width 32 and maximum width
34. This allows customization of the jumper storage capacity
provided by jumper spool 22. The telescoping feature is triggered
with the use of a spring button 36 positioned on top face 26.
Spring button 36 is generally configured with bottom mount 24 and
top face 26 to change the lateral position of the top face from
left to right with respect to bottom mount 24 as seen by comparing
FIGS. 1 and 2. To this end, spring button 36 is attached to a
spring 37 which extends through the interior of jumper spool 22. A
bottom end of spring 37 mounts to bottom mount 24. A top end of
spring 37 mounts to top face 26.
Spring 37 is biased to push away from bottom mount 24 and apply a
pushing out force to top face 26 in order to laterally move the top
face away from the bottom mount and thereby increase the width of
jumper spool 22. Top face 26 connects with the body layers of
jumper spool 22 such that the body layers expand out from one
another to increase the width of the jumper spool as the top face
laterally moves away from bottom mount 24. Spring button 36 is
configured with bottom mount 24, top face 26, and spring 37 to lock
the spring in place in order to set the top face in a given lateral
position with respect to the bottom face. Upon spring button 36
locking spring 37 in place, top face 26 is not able to laterally
move farther away from bottom mount 24. Likewise, top face 26 is
biased by spring 37 to maintain its given lateral position upon
spring button 36 locking the spring in place.
Referring now to FIG. 3, with continual reference to FIGS. 1 and 2,
a top view of spool assembly 20 is shown. As shown in FIG. 3,
spring button 36 is generally positioned in the middle of the
cylindrical body structure of top face 26. Likewise, the spring
extends through the middle of the interior of jumper spool 22
between bottom mount 24 and top face 26.
Referring now to FIG. 4, with continual reference to FIGS. 1
through 3, a bottom view of spool assembly 20 is shown. In
accordance with the present invention, bottom mount 24 includes an
adhesive surface 38. Adhesive surface 38 is a stick-on surface
which is initially covered by a peel-off surface. Upon the peel-off
surface being peeled off, adhesive surface 38 adheres to the
surfaces of structures such as troughs, network equipment, fiber
distribution frames, relay racks, etc. As such, adhesive surface 38
attaches spool assembly 20 to such surfaces. That is, wherever
spool assembly 20 fits on a surface structure, the spool assembly
can be attached and used. This enables customized placement of one
or more spool assemblies 20 in a fiber optics environment.
Referring now to FIG. 5, with continual reference to FIGS. 1
through 4, a side view of a multiple spool assembly arrangement 40
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown.
Multiple spool assembly arrangement 40 generally includes two or
more jumper spools 22 for absorbing fiber optic jumper slack.
Adhesive surfaces 38 of bottom mounts 24 of jumper spools 22 adhere
to a base plate 42 in order to mount the jumper spools onto the
base plate. Jumper spools 22 are separated from one another by a
minimum separation distance 44 (shown in FIG. 7) such as 3.0
inches. As such, jumper spools 22 rapidly absorb slack of jumpers
by enabling the jumpers to wrap around the jumper spools 22 from
one to another in a "figure eight" configuration. Again, the jumper
storage volume capacity provided by jumper spools 22 of multiple
spool assembly arrangement 40 is a function of the widths of the
jumper spools. FIG. 5 illustrates jumper spools 22 in a
non-telescoped layout such that the jumper spools have minimum
width 32 and, consequently, have a minimum jumper volume storage
capacity.
Referring now to FIG. 6, with continual reference to FIGS. 1
through 5, a side view of multiple spool assembly arrangement 40 in
which jumper spools 22 are in a telescoped layout is shown. In the
telescoped layout shown in FIG. 6, jumper spools 22 have maximum
width 34 and, consequently, have a maximum jumper volume storage
capacity.
Referring now to FIG. 7, with continual reference to FIGS. 1
through 6, a top view of multiple spool assembly arrangement 40 is
shown. As shown in FIG. 7, top faces 26 of jumper spools 22 are
positioned away from one another by minimal separation distance 44.
As described above, minimal separation distance 44 is set to ensure
that jumpers 28 maintain their minimum bend radius when extending
between jumper spools 28 in order to wrap around the jumper spools
in the figure eight configuration.
Referring now to FIG. 8, with continual reference to FIGS. 1
through 7, a bottom view of multiple spool assembly arrangement 40
is shown. In accordance with the present invention, base plate 42
includes an adhesive surface 46 like adhesive surfaces 38 of bottom
mounts 24 of jumper spools 22. Adhesive surface 46 is a stick-on
surface which adheres to the surfaces of structures such as
troughs, network equipment, fiber distribution frames, relay racks,
etc. As such, adhesive surface 46 attaches multiple spool assembly
arrangement 40 to such surfaces. That is, wherever multiple spool
assembly arrangement 40 fits on a surface structure, the multiple
spool assembly arrangement can be attached and used. Again, this
enables customized placement of multiple spool assembly arrangement
40 in a fiber optics environment.
Referring now to FIG. 9, with continual reference to FIGS. 1
through 8, a side view of a relay rack panel assembly 50 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown.
Rack panel assembly 50 includes a panel 52. Panel 52 is suitable
for being horizontally inserted into a relay rack in a manner
similar to how network equipment bays are inserted into the relay
rack. Panel 52 includes a top surface 53 and a bottom surface 54.
One or more jumper spools 22 are mounted on top surface 53 and/or
bottom surface 54 of panel 52 for absorbing fiber optic jumper
slack in a relay rack. When rack panel assembly 50 is inserted into
a relay rack, jumper spools 22 absorb the slack of jumpers 28
routed between the network equipment bays in the relay rack. That
is, jumpers 28 connected to one termination point in a network
equipment bay are wrapped around or over jumper spools 22 and then
connected to another termination point in the bay or in a different
bay in order for the jumper spools to absorb the slack of the
jumpers.
FIGS. 10 and 11 respectively illustrate top and bottom views of
rack panel assembly 50. In particular, FIG. 10 illustrates top
surface 53 of panel 52 more clearly. Similarly, FIG. 11 illustrates
bottom surface 54 of panel 52 more clearly.
Referring now to FIG. 12, with continual reference to FIGS. 1
through 11, a perspective view of a fiber optics environment 60 in
accordance with the present invention is shown. Fiber optics
environment 60 includes a raceway 62 horizontally extending over
network equipment 64. Raceway 62 carries and supports jumpers 28
over network equipment 64. Certain jumpers 28 in raceway 62 exit
the raceway through a raceway exit trough 66 to connect with
network equipment 64. Network equipment 64 includes a relay rack 68
and a plurality of network equipment bays 70. Bays 70 are inserted
into relay rack 68 and are mounted to sides 72 of the relay rack.
Bays 70 include a plurality of fiber optic termination points 74
along with fiber optics communications equipment.
Jumpers 28 exited from raceway 62 extend down from the raceway and
towards relay rack 68. Typically, these jumpers 28 run down along
relay rack sides 72. Of course, these jumpers 28 are also able to
run down along a duct within the interior of relay rack 68. In
either event, these jumpers 28 route through network equipment 64
in order to make connections with network equipment bay termination
points 74.
As can be appreciated, jumpers 28 routed in raceway 62 have a
relatively large length as the jumpers are routed by the raceway
through fiber optics environment 60. As such, the portions of
jumpers 28 exited from raceway 62 will have a much larger length
than the length required for making connections with network
equipment bay termination points 74 placed below the raceway. Thus,
this excess jumper length (i.e., slack) has to be stored within
network equipment 64 in some manner.
In accordance with the present invention, fiber optics environment
60 includes spool assemblies 20 which are selectively incorporated
as part of the environment for absorbing the jumper slack. In
particular, spool assemblies 20 adhere to relay rack sides 72 in
order to be selectively placed adjacent to bays 70. Jumpers 28
exited from raceway 62 extend down along relay rack sides 72 and
wrap around or over spool assemblies 20. Jumpers 28 then extend
from spool assemblies 20 to bays 70 in order to connect with
termination points 74. As can be understood, spool assemblies 20
absorb the jumper slack as jumpers 28 wrap around or over the spool
assemblies. Then, relatively small length portions of jumpers 28
extend from spool assemblies 20 to connect with termination points
74. Thus, the lengths of the portions of jumpers 28 running down
through relay rack 68 and to termination points 74 are sized
appropriately to the physical lengths actually required for these
tasks whereas the lengths of the remaining jumper portions are
stored by spool assemblies 20. As such, fiber optics environment 60
represents an environment in which jumper slack is stored next to
network equipment 64 or within a fiber distributing frame.
Referring now to FIG. 13, with continual reference to FIGS. 1
through 12, a perspective view of a fiber optics environment 80 in
accordance with the present invention is shown. Fiber optics
environment 80 also includes a raceway 82 extending over two pieces
of network equipment 84, 85. Raceway 82 routes jumpers 28 over
network equipment 84, 85. Jumpers 28 exit raceway 82 through exit
raceway troughs 86 to connect with network equipment 84, 85.
Network equipment 84 includes a relay rack 88 and a plurality of
network equipment bays 90, 92, 94. Bays 90, 92, 94 are inserted
into relay rack 88 and are mounted to sides 72 of the relay rack.
Bays 90, 92, 94 include a plurality of fiber optic termination
points 74 along with fiber optics communications equipment.
Similarly, network equipment 85 includes a relay rack 89 and a
plurality of network equipment bays 96, 98. Bays 96, 98 are
inserted into relay rack 89 and are mounted to sides 72 of the
relay rack. Bays 96, 98 include a plurality of fiber optic
termination points 74 along with fiber optics communications
equipment.
Certain jumpers 28 exited from raceway 82 extend down from the
raceway and towards relay rack 88 of network equipment 84. Such
jumpers 28 run down along relay rack sides 72. Other jumpers 28
exited from raceway 82 extend down from the raceway and towards
relay rack 89 of network equipment 85. These jumpers 28 run along a
duct 100 within the interior of relay rack 89. In either event,
jumpers 28 route through network equipment 84, 85 in order to make
connections with network equipment bay termination points 74.
In accordance with the present invention, fiber optics environment
80 includes spool assemblies 20 and rack panel assemblies 50 which
are selectively incorporated as part of the environment for
absorbing jumper slack. For example, spool assemblies 20 are
adhered to sides 72 of relay rack 88 in order to be selectively
placed adjacent to bays 90, 92, 94 of network equipment 84. Jumpers
28 extend down along rack sides 72 and wrap around or over spool
assemblies 20. Jumpers 28 then extend from spool assemblies 20 to
connect with termination points 74 of network equipment bays 90,
92, 94.
Further, rack panel assemblies 50 are inserted into relay racks 88,
89 in a manner similar to how the bays are inserted and mounted in
the relay racks. Rack panel assemblies 50 include spool assemblies
20 which are used to absorb jumper slack. For example, a spool
assembly 20 of a panel assembly 50 mounted in relay rack 88 absorbs
slack of jumpers 28 interconnected between network equipment bay 92
as shown in FIG. 13. Another spool assembly 20 of panel assembly 50
mounted in relay rack 88 absorbs slack of jumpers 28 which run
along rack sides 72 and are interconnected between raceway 82 and
network equipment bay 94 as shown in FIG. 13.
Likewise, for example, a spool assembly 20 of a panel assembly 50
mounted in relay rack 89 absorbs slack of jumpers 28 interconnected
between network equipment bay 96 as shown in FIG. 13. This spools
assembly 20 also absorbs slack of jumpers 28 which run along
through duct 100 and are interconnected between raceway 82 and
network equipment bay 96 as shown in FIG. 13. Further, for example,
a spool assembly 20 adhered to rack side 72 of relay rack 88
absorbs slack of jumpers 28 routed and interconnected from network
equipment 84 to network equipment bay 98 of network equipment 85 as
shown in FIG. 13. As another example, a spool assembly 10 adhered
to the inside surface of raceway 82 absorbs slack of jumpers 28
routed through the raceway as shown in FIG. 13.
While embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated
and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate
and describe all possible forms of the present invention. Rather,
the words used in the specification are words of description rather
than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
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